Recap from last Sunday: Mordecai’s unwillingness to respect/commit to loyalty to Haman set off chain of events that was going to bring annihilation to the Jews. Chapter 3 set up the disaster that the book hinges on.
The reason I bring up Mordecai’s choices here is because we start Chapter 4 with Mordecai in sackcloth and a bitter cry. I was wondering how it must feel to know you were the one that set up the destruction for your people. It would be bad enough knowing you had done it in good conscience, but how would you feel if you knew you were wrong? (I’m not trying to say that Mordecai was wrong (although in my personal opinion he was at least being foolish), but more to have you think about how it applies to us: let US be CAREFUL to not foolishly be disrespectful.)
BTW, how much time do we have here between when the decree was sent (“coincidentally” on the eve of Passover week), and when it was to be carried out? How much time from when the decree was sent until it was “reversed”?
Mourning: what was the symbolism of sackcloth and ashes?
Says in every province. Think of the joy of God’s enemies back in Jerusalem.
Why did Mordecai go up to the king’s gate to mourn?
Why was Esther distressed at Mordecai’s mourning?
What was the point in sending him clothes to wear? He obviously had clothes already, right?
Interesting that Mordecai even knew how much money Haman had promised. 10,000 talents may have been near 2/3 of GDP of Persian empire (Debra Reid). For comparison: US GDP $16.77 Trillion x 0.75 = 0.66 so around $10 Trillion if we would be thinking in American value. Little wonder people were repeating the number as the story passed around (did Haman leak the number to brag since this conversation was behind closed doors?)
Mordecai commanded Esther to go in to the king. Interesting that he commanded her. Maybe more importantly, he was finally releasing (commanding) her to reveal her identity.
The author, using Esther’s response, reveals that Esther is now in the same position of Vashti–of disobeying the king. We know what happened to Vashti when she did that, what will happen to Esther? (One important difference here, though, is that Esther was smart enough to make the Jews’ destruction a matter of the king’s honor, whereas Vashti had publicly violated the king’s honor.)
What is the significance of not being called in to the king for 30 days?
What is the significance of Mordecai warning Esther so severely in his reply to her initial refusal? Why did he throw in her father’s house as well? Wasn’t it perishing anyway with her being married off to a Persian king?
Mordecai’s second response seems to show his faith in deliverance. But yet he almost states it as a question? He did not know for sure that Esther would be able to avert the disaster, but he knew that she must try.
Vs 12-17 is probably the most interesting passage in the book. There seems to be an implicit faith in God and his providence, and yet he is never mentioned. How do you reconcile this? I am confident Scripture’s omission of prayer and God in this passage are not incidental.
What is the significance of Esther’s statement: “If I perish, I perish”?
Obviously, Esther was committing to laying down her life for her people which was commendable. And yet, was her statement showing her resignation to fate, or was a declaration of her faith in God’s providence??
